Car Insurance in San Jose, CA (June 2023)

How Much Does Car Insurance Cost in San Jose?

The average annual cost of auto insurance in San Jose is $1875. This is less expensive than the California statewide average ($1881) but more expensive than the national average of $1557. Our auto insurance guide for San Jose includes average rates based on age, credit score, driving history, and marital status.

Here’s more details on San Jose auto insurance:

San Jose rates VS California & the United States Averages

San Jose Auto Insurance Premiums by Company

The difference in auto insurance rates from one company to the next can be significant, and Mercury offers the most affordable rates for the average insurance customer in San Jose. The top affordable insurance options in San Jose are listed below. Don't forget to compare car insurance quotes based on your specific driving history.

San Jose Auto Insurance Premiums by Age Group

Drivers in their 60s pay the least for auto insurance in San Jose, paying an average of $1686. In San Jose, the difference in car insurance premiums paid by teenage drivers and drivers in their twenties is $4170. This is the most significant premium disparity between any two age groups.

San Jose Auto Insurance Premiums by Marital Status

A driver's marital status will influence the car insurance rates they pay in some cases. In San Francisco, married drivers pay $98 less for car insurance than single drivers.

San Jose Auto Insurance Premiums by Gender

Another factor that can influence car insurance rates is gender. In San Jose, female drivers pay $3 more per year for auto insurance than male drivers.

San Jose Auto Insurance Premiums by Driving Record

Avoiding accidents and citations is the best way to keep your auto insurance rates low no matter where you live. Speeding tickets, reckless driving charges, DUIs and DWIs, and at-fault accidents all tend to raise rates.

Reckless driving and DUI are two of the most expensive driving violations in terms of the insurance. Compared to the citywide average, a reckless driving citation results in an average insurance rate increase of $3,090 per year in San Jose. A DUI offense results in a $2,977 rate increase while a speeding ticket results in a $757 rate increase.

San Jose Auto Insurance Premiums by Credit Rating

In California, the credit score is considered discriminatory, so it is not used as a rating factor when determining how much you'll pay for auto insurance.

San Jose Auto Insurance Premiums by Zip Code

Where you live is an essential factor that insurance companies consider when calculating how much you pay for auto insurance — right down to your ZIP code. Insurers assess the risks in your area and price auto insurance policies accordingly. The higher the risk, the higher the premium because you are more likely to need to file a claim at some point.

The average rates for each San Jose ZIP code are listed below.

Expensive San Jose ZIP codes: 95196, 95194, 95113, 95116, 95122

Cheap San Jose ZIP codes: 95130, 95120, 95124, 95129, 95141

What Would Increase Your Car Insurance Rate in San Jose?

Auto accidents and traffic violations are common reasons for increased insurance rates. Still, there are other reasons for increased car insurance premiums, such as an address change, a new vehicle, and claims in your zip code.

Auto theft statistics in San Jose

Auto thefts are on the rise in San Jose. Car thefts increased by 15% between 2019 and 2020. According to preliminary data, thefts recorded in January and February of this year outnumbered thefts recorded during the same period in 2020 by a whopping 49 percent.

In 2020, San Jose residents reported 7065 auto thefts, up from 6126 the previous year. Residents reported 1736 auto thefts in the first three months of 2021.

Accidents Statistics in San Jose

Sixty people were killed on San Jose streets in 2021, including 23 pedestrians, and the grim tally has increased every week.

Traffic-safety advocates across the country are dealing with an increase in fatal collisions, mainly due to the pandemic's pendulum swing in travel patterns, as drivers and pedestrians became accustomed to speeding on empty roads and crossing deserted streets.

Useful Info For Driving In San Jose

Driving on San Diego's freeways can be difficult and dangerous at times. The freeways in this area are not as bad as those in Orange, Los Angeles, and Riverside Counties, but they can appear to be. And there's no way around it if you want to get to most places. So, here are some highway driving safety tips!

• Tip 1: Freeways in the San Diego area have four lanes. The first lane to the left is the number one lane, the second to the right is the number two-lane, and so on. Lane 1 is for fast cars, while Lane 4 is for slower vehicles such as trucks, cars pulling trailers, and cars driven by the elderly.
• Tip 2: The safest lane to travel in is lane 3. Use this lane, go with the flow, leave plenty of space between yourself and the car ahead of you, and don't speed.
• Tip 3: The I-5 freeway runs from the Mexican border to the Canadian border, a freight truck shipping route. Be cautious of them. They prefer to travel in lane three and allow plenty of space when they are in front of you and behind you. Passing freight trucks should be done quickly.
• Tip 4: In recent years, San Diego has seen an influx of people from other states and countries. Please do not assume they understand how to drive safely on freeways. "Watch out for the other guy," as the adage goes.
• Tip 5: Plan your route ahead of time, so you know where to exit and where to merge onto another freeway. Move into lane four at least a mile before exiting on freeways.

Car Insurance Companies in San Jose

Here is the list of the top car insurance companies in San Jose.